Registering ballot-box



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. B. H. TOWNE. REGISTERING BALLOT BOX.

No. 509,410. Patented NOV. 28, 18 93.

r I IIIIIIIIIIIWIIWL TNI NATIONAL LIYMOGRAPHINQ COMPANY,

WAININGTON D O (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2,

E. H. TOWNE,

REGISTERING BALLOT BOX.

110.509.41.07 Patented Nov. 28, 1893.

' we mmomu. umoanmma coMPuN.

wAsl-lmmou. 1:. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ENOGI-I H. TOWNE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

REGISTERING BALLOT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,410, dated November 28, 1893.

Application filed January 19, 1893- Serial No. 453,994. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ENooH H. TOWNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Registering and Canceling Ballot-Box, of which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable persons skilled in the art to which this invention appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means more especially designed for the improvement of that class of ballot-box apparatus in which a movable top or cover is employed for closing over the ballot-receiving space or bed when a ballot has been deposited.

The prime object of my present invention is to afford means whereby the mechanism is automatically locked and unlock ed, controlled by the absence or presence of the ballot, and the operation of the receiving and counting devices thereby prevented except when a ballot is passed into the box.

Another object is to provide means for preventing the drawing back of the cover or slide after it has been partially advanced, and before the complete covering in and registering of a ballot is effected.

Another object is to provide means for preventing the withdrawal of a ballot after its having been deposited on the receiving bed and before the cover or slide has completely concealed it.

Minor objects and features of my invention will be understood from the following detailed description; the particular subject-matter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a ballot-box illustrating the embodiment of my invention; some portions being shown broken away to reveal parts beneath. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same with some parts shown in section. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section (on somewhat larger scale) at line to w on Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a sectional view showing the automatic stop-finger as in engagement with the bed. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section at line a: 00 Fig. 1, showing means for preventing retraction of the cover before the bed drops. Fig. 6 is a transverse section at line y y Fig. 1, showing the method of preventing re-advancement of the cover before the bed is elevated.

The general features in the apparatus herein shown for covering in, cancelingand registering ballots in the process of voting, are in their nature similar to the apparatus described in Letters Patent No. 489,169, heretofore granted me, and may be briefly stated as comprising a swinging bed; a movable top or cover that is passed over said bed; a printing wheel carried by said cover, that rolls upon the ballot; and a counting register with actuating mechanism worked by movement of said cover; and the general operation of voting is conducted in a manner substantially similar to that described in said patent; the working of the several parts of the apparatus being however, essentially qualified in their action and results by the improved constructions, as hereinafter specified.

Referring to parts, A denotes the frame or casing of a ballot-box, the upper portion only being herein shown, as the lower portion can be simply a plain square boX,or a receptacle of the required height into which the ballots can fall.

B indicates the ballot-receiving way or bed pivotally supported in the frame, as at b, to swing downward at its front edge, (see dotted lines Fig. 3) and up to its normal horizontal position where it is upheld by automatically engaging fastenings or spring latches E that are arranged substantially as shown.

0 indicates the sliding top or cover supported on the guide-waysa and provided with a handle 0' whereby it can be conveniently moved over the bed or drawn back to the positiou indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

G indicates the printing wheel or canceling marker, and G the inking cylinder therefor mounted in a yielding supporting, frame H pivoted to or carried on the under side of the movable cover. A suitable guard or stop g prevents the canceling devices from dropping out of place when at retracted position. Trip rods e arranged in the side pieces of the frame, extend backward from the springs E and have projecting ends at convenient positions for actuation by the lugs e fixed on the under side of the cover 0.

The bed B is provided with short arms or levers D, by means of which it is swung upward to horizontal position by the backward movement of the cover which is provided on its under side near its front edge with cams or lugs d that engage with and depress said arms. The rear portion of the cover in line with the arms is recessed, as at c, to permit the upward movement of the arms when the cover is at forward position and the bed drops.

One feature of my invention consists in providing automatic devices for preventing the closing of the cover when there is no ballot on the bed. For this purpose I preferably employ swinging dogs or stop-fingers F that are movably connected with the under part of the cover, or with the parts which support the printing wheels; and provide a notch or series of notches ffixed'in the bed in front of the dogs (see Figs. 1, 3 and 4) into which the end of the dog can enter. A lug h, fixed on the rear edge of the bed, lifts the dog F when the cover is at its backward limit of movement; but a slight advance of the cover carries the dog off from said lug and permits its end to drop. If a ballot is pres ent upon the bed the dogs fall upon the surface of the same and simply slide forward upon the ballot; but when the ballot is absent then the dogs drop into the notches f and forward movement of the cover 0 is arrested by engagement of the dogs, or either of them, in the notched bed, as indicated in Fig. 4; hence the covercannot be closed over the bed excepting when a ballot is introduced.

The dogs F can be pivoted directly to the plate or cover 0, or upon the arbor of the canceling wheel, as shown in Fig. 3; in which latter case the action of stopping the advance also tends to lift the canceling wheel from contact with the bed.

Another feature of my invention consists in means for preventing the retraction of the cover 0 after it has been partially advanced and before the bed has been dropped and the ballot transferred to the interior of the boX. For this purpose the end piece or flange B on the bed (at one or both ends) is fitted with a series of backwardly directed notches t', and a latch I is attached to the cover 0, arranged to pass forward freely over said notches, but to engage therewith and resist backward movement of the cover. (See Fig. 5.) While the bed is elevated this latch prevents the return of the cover to its backward position, but when the cover has moved forward sufficiently to throw off the springs E the dropping of the bed for transferring the ballot also carries the notched part downward along with it, thereby leaving the latch I free and the cover can then be drawn back at will.

A guard, grill or series of bars J is preferably arranged over the ballot-receiving space or bed. to prevent taking a ballot from the bed after the cover has been partially closed. Said grill is best disposed as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to extend from side to side between the supports K; which latter are best made of suflicient width to project over the ends B of the bed. A space M is left at the front or between the bars for the introduction of the ballot, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The inner surface of the front of the ballotway is preferably inclined, as at m, and the forward edge of the sliding cover is provided with an under-beveled guard or apron O that prevents the ballot being caught by the ends of the dogs F in case the ballot is crumpled and does not fall flat upon the bed. In any instance, if desired, downwardly inclined points are provided on the front inner surface, as indicated at m Figs. 1 and 6, to prevent the ballot being forced forward by the cover in case the ballot is wrinkled or fails to lie flat upon the bed. To'prevent a second forward movement of the cover after it has been moved nearly to its rearward limit, but before the bed has been raised to normal position, I provide in the under side of the cover a recess and lug P (see Fig. 6) with which the end of the bed-operating arm D engages in the manner shown, thereby resisting the advance of the cover while the bed is down, or until the cover has been moved back sufficiently to raise the bed to a position where its front edge will be caught and retained by the spring-latches E, thus guarding against the possibility of a movement that might work the registering mechanism without the deposit of a ballot.

Another feature of my invention consists of intermediate mechanism for transmitting motion from the sliding cover to the registering mechanism in a direct manner, and disconnected in a manner to allow a degree of independent action for accommodating the longer movement of the cover to the shorter movement of the register-actuating arm or pawl. The registering mechanism B may be of any suitable style operating by a backward and forward movement, or by the pawl lever L. A longitudinally reciprocating bar S having thereon tappets orlugs r at some distance apart, is supported in the frame, and between said tappets works a detent or arm n that is connected with the cover 0, but disconnected from the bar S. The forward tappet r is best provided with means for adjusting the extent of its movement, or with a strikerscrew 1. that can be set at proper position for receiving from the detent at just the amount of motion necessary for properly working the register-actuating arm. The pawl'arm L is connected with the slide-bar S by a link or any suitable means for transmitting its motion; so that the counter will register one number with each movement of the cover or drop of the bed. The case A is, in the present instance, provided with a glass panel V disposed in front of and below the level of the ballot-bed, or so combined that as the bed swings downward'the ballot moves past said glass enabling the voter to assure himself that his ballot has been transferred to theinterior of the box.

I claim as my invention herein, to be secured by Letters Patent- 1. In a ballot-box, the combination of a ballot'receiving space or bed, a movable top or slide for covering and uncovering the same, an automatic locking dog or finger connected with said movable top, and an opposing notch in the surface over which said finger travels, fitted for engagement with said finger at the advance movement, accordingly as controlled by presence or absence of the ballot or paper upon the receiving bed, said locking devices engaging for preventing advancement of said top when a ballot is absent and permitting advancement thereof when a ballot is introduced, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a ballot-bed having a notch (or notches) in its surface, a movable top or cover for closing over said bed and a locking dog (or dogs) carried by and pivotally supported in connection with said cover and adapted to drop into engagement with the notched ballot-bed when a ballot is absent therefrom for arresting the forward movement of said cover, and a lifter for raising said dog when the cover is at its backward limit, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the sliding cover, the canceler-support frame pivoted thereto, the canceling wheels mounted on an arbor in said frame, the locking dogs pivoted on said arbor, the ballot-bed having notches therein for engagement of said dogs, and the lugs at the rear edge of said bed for upholding said dogs when the cover is retracted, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the downwardly swinging ballot-bed provided with a backwardly notched or indented side piece, and the movable top or cover provided with a pawl or latch that engages with said notched side piece for preventing retroaction or withdrawal of said cover while the bed is in elevated position, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with the swinging ballotbed having the arm D, and the sliding cover, the recess and guard lug P disposed adjacent to the lifter cam on the under side of said cover, and engaging with said arm to arrest forward movement of the cover when the ballot-bed is at depressed position, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the ballot-receiving bed or space, the movable cover adapted to slide over and from said space, and the counting register, of the intervening mechanism for working said register comprising a carrier or bar provided with tappets, and movable in the same direction as the cover, a detent or arm connected to said cover, and disconnectedly engaging said tappets with a degree of independent movement for said cover in excess of the movement imparted to the register-actuating arm, and means for adj usting the extent of the tappet movement, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, substantially as described, of the movable cover having the endwise projecting arm or detent connected thereto,the counting register, the reciprocating bar S disposed on the side frame and movable longitudinally in the direction of movement of said cover, a tappet or lugs r supported on said bar for engagement with said detent, and a connection from said bar to the register-operating arm, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a ballot-box mechanism of the character described, the sliding cover provided with the downwardly backwardly inclined front guard or apron 0 substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Witness my hand this 16th day of January, A. D. 1893.

ENOOH H. TOWNE.

Witnesses:

OHAs. H. BURLEIGH, ELLA P. BLENUs. 

